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CSExtra – Monday, July 16, 2012

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Brought to you by the Coalition for Space Exploration, CSExtra is a daily compilation of space industry news selected from hundreds of online media resources. The Coalition is not the author or reporter of any of the stories appearing in CSExtra and does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtra contains links to other websites and domains which are wholly independent of the Coalition, and the Coalition makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in any such site or domain and does not pre-screen or approve any content. The Coalition does not endorse or receive any type of compensation from the included media outlets and is not responsible or liable in any way for any content of CSExtra or for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of any content appearing in CSExtra. For information on the Coalition, visit www.spacecoalition.com or contact us via e-mail at [email protected].

Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities under way around the world, plus a roundup from the weekend. U.S., Russian and Japanese astronauts lift off for the International Space Station. NASA enlists four U. S. companies to study Space Launch System advanced propulsion options. A year after NASA’s final shuttle mission, Florida workers are still struggling to resurrect their careers. The Earth responds to increased solar activity. NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory promises drama, raises questions. Should NASA pare back its space center network? The European Space Agency considers a new member state. Pluto, a binary planet? A look at major space policy events scheduled for the week ahead.

1. From Spaceflightnow.com and CBS News, July 15: U.S., Russian and Japanese astronauts lifted off late Saturday for the International Space Station. The Soyuz crew transport with Sunita Williams, Yuri Malenchenko and Akihiko Hosihide is scheduled to dock with the station’s Russian segment at 12:52 a.m. EDT, Tuesday. Liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was at 10:40 p.m. EDT, following a trouble-free countdown.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp32/launch.html

2. From Space News, July 13: NASA commits $200 million for studies of six approaches to upgrade the Space Launch System that serves as the propulsion source for the agency’s future deep space human exploration plans. The concepts were submitted by Northrop Grumman, Aerojet General, ATK Launch Systems, and Dynetics.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/120713-companies-booster-studies.html

3. From The Associated Press via The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post and others, July 15: It’s been one year since NASA’s final space shuttle mission. At the Kennedy Space Center where the missions were prepared, many who lost their jobs at the end of the 30-year program are still rebuilding their professional lives. “Nobody wants to hire the old guy,” said one former shuttle manager, 62.
http://www.chron.com/default/article/Space-workers-struggle-a-year-after-last-shuttle-3708273.php

4. From Spaceweather.com, July 16: The Earth is undergoing a long geomagnetic storm, following the impact from a coronal mass ejection on July 14. The Northern Lights are visible in the U. S. Midwest as far south as Kansas.
www.spaceweather.com

5. From The Los Angeles Times, July 14: In three weeks, NASA engineer Ray Baker will be among those holding their breath as NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory’s Curiosity rover reaches Mars for a landing in Gale Crater. The mission, a decade in the making, relies on a novel landing strategy. At stake is a $2.5 billion, two-year effort to determine whether the Martian environment is/was suitable for microbial life.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mars-curiosity-landing-20120715,0,5399348.story